COVELLITE

covellite, a mineral species consisting of cupric sulphide, cus, crystallizing in the hexagonal system. it is of less frequent occurrence in nature than copper-glance, the orthorhombic cuprous sulphide. crystals are very rare, the mineral being usually found as compact and earthy masses or as a blue coating on other copper sulphides. hardness 1-1/2-2; specific gravity 4.6. the dark indigo-blue colour is a characteristic feature, and the mineral was early known as indigo-copper (ger. _kupferindig_). the name covellite is taken from n. covelli, who in 1839 observed crystals of cupric sulphide encrusting vesuvian lava, the mineral having been formed here by the interaction of hydrogen sulphide and cupric chloride, both of which are volatile volcanic products. covellite is, however, more commonly found in copper-bearing veins, where it has resulted by the alteration of other copper sulphides, namely chalcopyrite, copper-glance and erubescite. it is found in many copper mines; localities which may be specially mentioned are sangerhausen in prussian saxony, butte in montana, and chile; in the medicine bow mountains of wyoming a platiniferous covellite is mined, the platinum being present as sperrylite (platinum arsenide). (l. j. s.) covenant (an o. fr. form, later _convenant_, from _convenir_, to agree, lat. _convenire_), a mutual agreement of two or more parties, or an undertaking made by one of the parties. in the bible the hebrew word [hebrew: briia], _b[)e]r[=i]th_, is used widely for many kinds of agreements; it is then applied to a contract between two persons or to a treaty between two nations, such as the covenant made between abimelech and isaac, representing a treaty between the israelites and the philistines (gen. xxvi. 26, seq.); more particularly to an engagement made between god and men, or such agreements as, by the observance of a religious rite, regarded god as a party to the engagement. two suggestions have been made for the derivation of _b[)e]r[=i]th_: (1) tracing the word from a root "to cut," and the reference is to the primitive rite of cutting victims into parts, between which the parties to an agreement passed, cf. the greek [greek: horkia temnein], and the account (gen. xv. 17) of the covenant between god and abraham, where "a smoking furnace and burning lamp passed between the pieces" of the victims abraham had sacrificed; (2) connecting it with an assyrio-babylonian _biritu_, fetter, alliance. _b[)e]r[=i]th_ was translated in the septuagint by [greek: diatheke], which in classical greek had the meaning of "will"; hence the vulgate, in the psalms and the new testament, translates the word by _testamentum_, but elsewhere in the old testament by _foedus_ or _pactum_; similarly wycliffe's version gives "testament" and "covenant" respectively. the books of scripture dealing with the old or mosaic, and new or christian dispensation are sometimes known as the books of the old and the new covenant. the word appears in the system of theology developed by johannes cocceius (q.v.), and known as the "covenant" or "federal" theology, based on the two covenants of works or life made by god with adam, on condition of obedience, and of grace or redemption, made with christ. in scottish ecclesiastical history, covenant appears in the two agreements signed by the members of the scottish church in defence of their religious and ecclesiastical systems (see covenanters).